A battle is brewing among California Republicans over the state party chairmanship about whether or not it is beneficial for candidates to fully embrace President Donald Trump or to ignore him altogether and focus on the foundational values of the party.

The GOP experienced mass defeat in the midterm election, and nearly two-thirds of voters in California disapprove of the president, reported Politico.

“Whomever California Republicans elect to succeed Jim Brulte, the former state senator who has led the party for six years, won’t be able to reverse the party’s fortunes anytime soon. But they might be able to halt the downward spiral,” Politico reported.

Candidate Jessica Patterson wants the GOP to “stay on message” and not involves itself with the drama that President Donald Trump carries.

“Some people have already given up on my party and they say it’s not salvageable,’’ Patterson told Politico. “I don’t accept that. I love my party too much.’’

However, her opponent, Travis Allen says that embracing Trump’s successes will help the party thrive.

“Clearly, the Republican party must stand for Republican values — and the Republican president,’’ Allen, an ex-state assemblyman said. “This is truly a Republican president who has delivered — and among the 4.5 million Republicans in California, I have yet to find a room that is not overwhelmingly in support of him.’’

However, the division within the GOP has been happening for years, and the party has failed to present a unified message.

“It’s a nightmare election,’’ Lanhee Chen, a former adviser to presidential campaigns said. “It’s the same fight we’ve been having since [former Gov. Arnold] Schwarzenegger left office.’’

Robert Molnar, a GOP consultant says that the party has faced a “total failure.”

“We have lost seats every cycle,” he said. “It’s been a total failure. They’re not even an opposition party at this point. Right now, the California Republican Party is as dead as you can imagine…it’s ashes.”